Nick Jr. has picked up Julius Jr. for a second season in the U.S. The animated preschool series by Saban Brands is inspired by the character Paul Frank and debuted on the network in September 2013.

Nick Jr. will premiere new episodes of Julius Jr. on the first Saturday in May. The show’s themes will be brought to life with a toy line from Fisher-Price Inc., the global master toy licensee for the brand. The line will include playsets and plush assortments. The toys will hit Toys “R” Us shelves starting in mid-June and a full rollout with key retailers this fall.

Christopher Skala has been appointed the new consultant for Novel Entertainment. He will join Lucinda Whitely and Mike Watts, owners of Novel Entertainment, in building on the company’s digital offerings.

Skala will expand opportunities for key brands across the UK and internationally. He is currently Managing Director of his own company, Skala Consultancy.

Downton Abbey is known for being one of the classiest shows on TV—quite literally, in fact, meaning it revolves around the “upstairs” and “downstairs” worlds of an early 20th century household in England. The life of the upper class upstairs is juxtaposed and entwined with the service staff downstairs. The TV drama focuses on both classes equally, allowing you to love and hate members of both, showing upward mobility within them, and really defining what it really means to be wealthy and have status. (Plus, it’s heavily British and really soap-opera-y, making it very addicting and easy to marathon-watch.)

Downton Abbey is full of elegant taste and the instillation of manners and subtlety (the British way!), and parts of the licensing program reflects just that. While it does contain “louder” pieces, such as T-shirts from Fifth Sun bearing phrases such as “I was meant to live at Downton Abbey,” the licensing program also really focuses on making Downton Abbey a lifestyle brand—one that combines the fictional world with your own contemporary home. These products ease viewers’ fandom into their current modern lifestyle in a quieter way. Read the rest of this entry »

Starting this fall, a year-long program of celebrations marking the twentieth anniversary of Guess How Much I Love You, written by Sam McBratney and published by Candlewick Press. Candlewick will execute an extensive global marketing and publicity campaign. Marketing highlights include global trade and consumer advertising campaigns, widespread media coverage, a dedicated website to launch this fall, and social media promotions.

Candlewick Press is also seeking new licensing partners to build on the brand’s 20th anniversary.

Currently, Guess How Much I Love You licensed products in the U.S. include soft and plush toys, bath and body care products, recordable books, fabric, and more. In addition, Little Nutbrown Hare has hopped onto the screen; young fans can watch the Guess How Much I Love You: The Adventures of Little Nutbrown Hare animated TV series, just green lighted for a second season, on children’s networks worldwide.